Michael Bay's Comeback Movie!

Rating: 7/10 (15 October 2006)

After the ghastliness of "Pearl Harbour - It Was The Japs What Done It" and "Bad Boys II - Electric Boogaloo", Michael Bay gets his mojo back with "The Island".
The plot borrows a lot from other science fiction films but it is chock-full of kinetic energy. The sheer enthusiasm of the cast and director are what carry this film past all the genre clichés and make it - dare I say? - fun to watch. Michael Bay makes his stars look fabulous and he pitches them into the action with all the recklessness of a glory-hunting general. Reducing the tragedy of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour to the level of a popcorn action movie didn't work at all, but Bay's enthusiastic pop-video approach is perfect for "The Island".
He is not let down by his cast. Sean Bean simmers perfectly as the villain, Steve Buscemi reliably laconic as the Comedy Fallguy, Scarlett Johansson is effortlessly sexy as the Token Girly and Ewan MacGregor powers through the whole mad farrago at Charm Factor 9.
"The Island" is perfect popcorn fare, with very little thinking time between all the action and sheer spectacle. Don't analyse this movie or compare it to more "Worthy" science fiction because that's not what it's there for. "The Island" is made to entertain you, not broaden your horizons.
Strap yourself in and enjoy the ride...